The Dangers of Talking to Yourself
Excerpt from Luke 12:16-19
"The farm of a rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, 'Self, you've done well!'" (The Message)
Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson
What's really striking about this parable of a wealthy man who built huge barns to store his great harvest is to whom he talks. He talks to himself; no one else.
In the four verses of the parable he spoke to himself three times. He never heard from anyone else until suddenly, in the final verse: "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you."
Who do you consult when you make important decisions? Who is part of the on-going conversation of your life? When and how do you get outside your own head?
Today is Sunday and I hope that you will be part of a worship service. Part of what happens when we worship is we widen our conversational circle. We are including God, as well as other people, in our conversation. We are listening for God's word in Scripture and sermon. We are talking with God in prayer. We are talking with others in the congregation who also seek to have their conversation enlarged, and corrected, by God's word.
I've often heard people express appreciation for worship by saying, "Worship changes my perspective." Or, "Worship gives me a different way of seeing things." That happens when we widen the conversation and listen to voices besides our own, voices that are quite possibly wiser and deeper than our own.
Prayer
As I worship today, Lord, speak your word into my life and give me a fresh and hopeful perspective. Amen.
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